The Manchester United goalkeeper saga doesn’t only involve last year’s fan favourite and player of the year David De Gea. Former-Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes, who joined United on a free last season after his contract expired with Barcelona, was seemingly forced out of the club by manager Louis Van Gaal earlier this summer.

Now, however, in a bizarre U-turn he didn’t leave during the transfer window and is now part of the 25-man Premier League squad for Man United.

Why the change of decision?

The change in decision from Van Gaal to keep Valdes, who is usually a very stubborn manager and when he makes up his mind is rarely budged, could be because the club was expecting De Gea to leave the club for Real Madrid. If the rumours are to believe the bargain to have Navas as part of the De Gea was not originally part of the transfer. Therefore when United were realising that they may just lose their man in De Gea they needed to keep Valdes as a first team option.

Another reason why Van Gaal may have changed his mind is down to the good old fashioned, proving yourself in training, from Valdes. Valdes is reportedly a very hard working trainer so it is possible that he impressed the manager in training.  

Now De Gea is staying may Valdes leave?

Valdes’s United career may have been saved because United thought they were losing De Gea after fighting to keep him, meaning they needed another keeper. The uncertainty around the 'keeper at the club however has left the door open for Valdes to fight for his place in the Manchester United squad and with him being included in the 25 man squad it is very possible, that Valdes is staying for good.

Where will Valdes fit in?

With Sergio Romero, Valdes and De Gea now all fighting for first spot it is hard to see Valdes getting much game time. Until the De Gea situation is sorted out it is likely that Romero will stay as number one keeper for the time being. But it is even more likely that the minute David De Gea and Manchester United agree on a new contract or what the future holds for both of them, he will again be the United number and the hero will return, pushing Valdes down to third spot.

But he has evidently shown enough on the training ground to persuade Van Gaal to keep him on and even have him in the 25 man squad. So if he carries on training as he must be doing so, then he has every chance to fight for second spot and earn some game time.

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